Marshall Worth, senior project manager AI at PowerSecure, discusses artificial intelligence and a practical approach that microgrid customers can take today to achieve their energy goals of the future. "Alexa, reduce my energy costs!" With as fast as technology has progressed over the last decade, and with the promise of self-driving cars on the horizon and the electrification of everything, it's only natural to question when this is all going to filter into our everyday, energy consuming lives. In this device-driven age, shouldn't we already have the artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities to reduce our carbon footprint today and our energy bill tomorrow? Those of us who work in the energy industry are fortunate; we are naturally driven to innovate and build the future of energy.

Most companies report measurable benefits from AI where it has been deployed; however, much work remains to scale impact, manage risks, and retrain the workforce. A group of high performers shows the way. Adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) continues to increase, and the technology is generating returns. The findings of the latest McKinsey Global Survey on the subject show a nearly 25 percent year-over-year increase in the use of AI in standard business processes, with a sizable jump from the past year in companies using AI across multiple areas of their business. A majority of executives whose companies have adopted AI report that it has provided an uptick in revenue in the business areas where it is used, and 44 percent say AI has reduced costs.

Artificial Intelligence, or AI for short, is nothing new; it goes way back to the 1950s. But things are different now; the vast volumes of data and the computing capabilities we have today mean we can do things better. So, what pain points are utilities seeing today that AI can help with? Let me share some examples. My first is about how AI can help optimize aging production capabilities while, at the same time, minimizing maintenance costs.

The promise of big data and artificial intelligence is everywhere. And, in all cases, so are the results. One almost gets the impression that there is no problem that cannot be solved with these new technologies. The answer to everything is'big data and artificial intelligence'. Open a web browser and you see advertising tuned to your latest online shopping.